Mississippi Barking Hurricane Katrina and a Life That Went to the Dogs
GENRE
MEMOIR
Core Theme
THIS STORY IS ABOUT A GROUP OF SELFLESS PEOPLE HELPING ANIMALS THAT MANAGED TO SURVIVE KATRINA’S TRAGEDY.
TIME PERIOD
2000s
COMPARABLE TITLES
BIG MIRACLE, FREE WILLY; THE MAIDEN AND THE WOLVES.
CHARACTER LIST
• CHRIS MCLAUGHLIN; 45+, SELFLESS, DRIVEN, UNEXPERIENCED, LGBT, SENSITIVE, WARM-HEARTED.
• ERIC PHELPS AND CHRISSY (COUPLE); ANIMAL PROTECTORS;
• JACQUIE BROOME, VETERINARIAN;
• ALTHEA, SISTER AND ANIMAL PROTECTOR;
• TONY, HELPER.
Logline
August 29, 2005, the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and the city of New Orleans. The worst natural and animal disaster in the history of the United States has made landfall. Within weeks I left my home in Massachusetts and drove south to help the animals.
Target Audiences
Age: 35-54,55+,18-34
Target Gender: Universal
Setting
Mississippi Gulf Coast and New Orleans
Based on a True Story
Yes
Publishing Details
Status: Yes: with a Publisher
Publisher: University Press of Mississippi
Year Published: 2021
Starting Description
October 2005. I'm driving alone into unimaginable devastation. There are no lights or cars on the road as I head straight into the event that forever changed my life and that of thousands of animals.
Ending Description
August 2009. Hurricane Gustav. Again, I’m on the Gulf Coast to help evacuate an animal shelter. This time there’s not a single sound of suffering or fear. I checked every cage to make certain we had them all. They were empty. Every single one.
Group Specific
Information not completed
Hard Copy Available
Yes
ISBN
978-1496835987
Mature Audience Themes
Substance Abuse,Sexual Abuse
Plot - Other Elements
Meaningful Message,Happy Ending
Plot - Premise
Overcoming Monster/Villain,Internal Journey/Rebirth,Tragedy
Main Character Details
Name: Chris McLaughlin
Age: 45 (2005)
Gender: Lgbt
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Selfless,Empathetic,Leader,Adventurous,Badass,Charming,Outspoken,Complex,Heroic
Additional Character Details
Name: Roberta (pseudonym)
Age: late 30’s at the time of Katrina.
Gender: Female
Role: Antagonist
Key Traits: Aggressive,Criminal,Villainous,Power Hungry,Unapologetic,Uneducated,Crazy
Additional Character Details
Name: Roberta (pseudonym)
Age: late 30's at the time of Katrina.
Gender: Female
Role: antagonist
Key Traits: Aggressive,Crazy,Unapologetic,Criminal,Uneducated,Power Hungry,Secretive
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Genre
DRAMA
Brief
Chris finds herself helping rescuing animals after Hurricane Katrina. Her volunteer efforts open her to new people and a new career helping rescue animals. She becomes involved in Waveland Shelter but finds horrible conditions for the animals. Chris works constantly to rescue animals and finding them home as well as reforming shelters.
Overall Rating
GOOD
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: GOOD
Characterization: GOOD
Commerciality: FAIR
Franchise Potential: FAIR
Pace: FAIR
Premise: FAIR
Structure: GOOD
Theme: GOOD
Accuracy of Book Profile
Yes, the book profile accurately reflects the book.
Draw of Story
The story jumps right into the destruction that occurred because of Hurricane Katrina. Chris finds the shelter she is aiding, filled with neglected and dirty animals. She tries to help them as best as she can in her own. The story connects emotionally to the audience and many people's love of animals. It also shows another perspective of those who needed help after the devastating hurricane.
Possible Drawbacks
The story is inspiring but isn't gripping. The subject matter seems very niche specifically for those who have an intense love of animals and/or are familiar with animal shelters.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY RELIES A LITTLE BIT ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
The hook is that after Hurricane Katrina, Chris volunteers to help with an abandoned animal shelter. She finds a new purpose and career helping animals and fighting for reform of abusive shelters. I would watch this movie for the inspiring story of Chris who's life changes with one decision.
Fanbase Potential
This would have a decent fanbase if made in the right format. It would work best as a documentary or docu-series which would appeal to a certain audience.
Awards Potential
This does not have awards potential. It lacks dynamic moments. The story is slower, exploring lots of aspects of animal rescue, shelters and Chris' experiences that are informing but not overly engaging.
Envisioned Budget
MEDIUM BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
SHELTER DOGS, THAT ANIMAL RESCUE SHOW, TIGER KING
What’s New About the Story
The story is original because it explores Chris' story of sexual abuse, running away from home and then following her gut to becoming deeply entrenched in animal rescue work. It also shows another aspect of who was effected by Hurricane Katrina; the animals that were abandoned and needed help.
Lead Characters
The lead character doesn't stand out very much. She is a simple person who finds herself in complex situations helping mistreated animals. Chris' is inspiring at times for her dedication to right the wrongs being done against animals.
Uniqueness of Story
This is an average story that lacks in excitement or suspense. The story is a slow unfolding of the events that Chris' witnessed after Hurricane Katrina. The story needs a driving plot. There is some drama when Chris' is fighting the governor trying to reform the rescue shelter. It is not very captivating.
Possible Formats
TV Series: Limited Run / Mini-Series, Unscripted
Analyst Recommendation
CONSIDER
Justification
The story was well written with many human emotions and would be informative and heart-warming to a decent audience. This works mostly as docu-series because it is engaging in an educational way. Chris has many stories about her experiences that would be effective coming from her; in her own words. This could explore all the work that needed to be down during Katrina and all of Chris ' efforts since.
Brief
This is the endearing story of Chris’ journey along with other volunteers who donated their time, efforts and money in order to help animals in post-Katrina Mississippi; facing difficulties they couldn’t have imagined they would.
What We Liked
At first, this may seem to be a simple heartfelt tale about animals that managed to survive Katrina’s disaster, but Chris’ skillful narrative involves the reader in a narrative that goes much deeper and becomes a lesson on the purpose of life and community. It is impossible to read this story without feeling moved by our hero’s courage and selfless drive to do what needed to be done for those animals, despite all difficulties. This is also an important memoir on a struggle that shouldn’t be forgotten, and a lesson on how the way we deal with animals is a reflex of how we care about each other and our planet as a whole.
Film: This would also be a great adaptation for cinema because the visuals are rich, author depicts in graphic details a tragedy that is massive in American history and is able to connect the experience of animals and humans in a beautiful and heartfelt manner, which makes the storytelling a full circle that would fit perfectly on a feature film.
TV: This would be a great adaptation for TV because the inexperience of the narrator is relatable for the audience, as she is just as surprised as we are with the difficulties that arise and which are varied and unimaginable, and can be explored in different episodes with varying themes.
Key points: Post Katrina Mississippi’s descriptions; Lgbt hero; environmental subtext; great storytelling; surprising outcomes.
Synopsis
Katrina’s tragedy unfolded before the eyes of people all around the world through TV screens. Chris McLaughlin was one of the ones watching from miles afar – and, at first, had no idea how involved she would soon be with the animals that survived the disaster.
While most of the efforts were focused on human survivors in the Gulf Coast, some volunteers – including Chris - gathered to help animals that were left by the staff of an animal shelter in an empty town, still struggling for their lives.
In the course of two years, Chris met people with the same good intentions – and some not even close – and was able to dig deep not only into her relationship with the animals she helped, but also the best and worst in humanity.
While she endured life threats and counted on a motorcycle gang for protection, Chris’ story is adventurous, thrilling and also life changing.